Photographic light reflector
The present invention discloses and teaches a new and improved photographic flash attachment, light reflecting apparatus that is lightweight, flexible, easily attached and/or detached from a camera flash and conveniently stored in a rolled or folded configuration. The disclosed flash reflector is configured from a thin, flexible, planar preform of polyurethane foam material, or any other suitable material, into an adjustable, generally concave configuration whereby adjusting the reflectors shape adjusts the power of the light it reflects to balance with the existing natural light or bounce off a ceiling thereby eliminating and/or reducing shadows about the photographic subject.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an artificial light reflector typically used with photographic equipment. More particularly the present invention discloses and teaches an improved light reflector for use with camera flash accessories.
A typical camera flash accessory includes attaching a flash directly to the camera, a flash bracket or a light stand containing the flash, or a hand-held flash held away from the camera. The flash of the flash accessory, produces a harsh light and undesirable shadows. However, reflecting the light with a reflector softens the light but typically reduces the amount of light reaching the subject being photographed. Thus the effective photographic distance between the camera and the subject is reduced to approximately 10 to 15 feet maximum. Photographers therefore need a flash reflector that can be quickly attached to the flash attachment for close up shots, and removed for distance photographs. Further such a flash attachment reflector should be easily stored and/or retrieved between uses.
2. Prior Art
A light reflector for use on a hand held camera flash-attachment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,006 issued to A. E Beckerman on Nov. 17, 1998 titled, “Apparatus And Method For Directing Light From a Swivel Flash Head.” Beckerman teaches a seated light reflector for attachment to the flash apparatus of a hand held camera that is formed from a rigid material, such as molded plastic or pressed metal. As such the Beckerman light reflector is cumbersome, non-adjustable, and lacks convenient portability.
The Beckerman light reflector is commercially marketed under the trademark SHELL™ comprising a rigid plastic material weighing approximately two ounces.
The Beckerman flash attachment reflector does not attach and/or detach quickly nor easily. Beckerman's hard rigid material is not collapsible making it difficult to quickly store and retrieve. Thus the Beckerman reflector is cumbersome and requires a large volumetric area for storage. It is asymmetrical, works on the long side of the flash and cannot be easily printed on because of it rigid round shape. Beckerman's SHELL'S hard rigid material creates its structure but it is not collapsible making it difficult to quickly store and retrieve. The Beckerman reflector attaches to the top of a flash attachment by two, relatively long, VELCRO® strips extending along opposing sides of the length of the flash attachment. Because of the inherent rigidity of the Beckerman reflector, the VELCRO® strips, on the reflector, are difficult to engage and/or disengage from the flash attachment and generally requires two hands for attachment and/or removal and may result in damage to the flash attachment foot and camera hot shoe.
Further the Beckerman reflector has no provisions for adjusting, or controlling, the angle, or power of its reflector's light. Still further, the Beckerman reflector does not accommodate a tilt flash head, and is only useful with a flash attachment, having a swivel head of which there are fewer models.
What is needed is a lightweight, flexible flash reflector that is quick to attach and/or detach, store, retrieve and shape adjustable.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONThe present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the above referenced prior art by teaching a photographic light reflector, suitable for use on a camera's flash accessory, that is very light in weight, flexible, easily adjustable and that may be conveniently rolled or folded for storage in the user's pocket or camera bag. A flash attachment light reflector embodying the herein invention weighs approximately one half of an ounce. Thus a flash attachment embodying the present invention is approximately seventy-five percent lighter in weight than the prior art Beckerman flash attachment light reflector.
A preform of a flash attachment light reflector embodying the present invention is preferably die cut from a thin planar sheet of polyurethane foam material having a thickness within the range of 1/32 inch to ¼ inch and preferably 1/16 inch. A suitable polyurethane foam sheet is marketed as sheets by RAM Technologies, Inc. of Mukilteo, Wash.
VELCRO® J-hook strips and loop patches are selectively placed upon the preform such that the otherwise flat preform may be shaped into a desired concave configuration thereby forming a quasi parabolic light reflector. Additional VELCRO® J-hook patches are placed about the base of the pseudo parabolic light reflector whereby the configured polyurethane foam reflector may be easily attached to and/or removed from the camera's flash attachment apparatus.
Flash accessories include flash attachments that may be attached directly to a camera, or to a flash bracket or light stand. Alternatively, the flash accessory can be a stand-alone accessory that is held away from the camera. The camera may be on a tripod or hand held. Types of flashes that are suitable for my invention include a bounce flash that has a head that tilts up and down or a swivel/bounce flash that has a head that tilts up and down as well as swivels left and right.
Turning now to
In general, the reflector 10 can be manufactured by cutting out its rounded shape from a flat piece of the flexible material. The cut material can then be folded and wrapped around the flash accessory. Optionally reflector 10 may be partially heat-shaped to produce a concave shape instead of being folded.
Referring to
Outer peripheral edge 28, of quadrant II, forms a inwardly sweeping, convex curve, as illustrated in
Two cut lines, or slits, are placed upon the vertical centerline of preform 15. Die cut 42, at the top of preform 15, and die cut 44 at the bottom of preform as illustrated in
Referring to
Further patches of VELCRO® J hooks 67 and 64 are affixed to quadrants I and IV, of the front surface of preform 15 as illustrated in
Referring now to
Preform 15 is formed into the concave, light reflector configuration 10, as illustrated in
The concavity of photographic flash reflector 10 may be conveniently varied by adjusting the amount of overlap of quadrants II and III. Further the vertical angle of light reflection may be conveniently varied by adjusting the overlap of quadrants II and III over quadrants I and IV respectively as illustrated in
Because of the flexible material from which the preforms are manufactured and their flat planar configuration when not applied to the flash attachment of a camera, the preforms may be conveniently rolled up or folded in half and in half again and placed in the users pocket or camera bag. It recovers its shape after folding.
It has been found that a decorative fabric may be adhesively applied the back surface of the thin polyurethane foam sheet prior to die cutting the reflector preforms. Thus a mat-black fabric may be applied to the reverse side of the preforms upon which a brand name, trademark and/or logo may be conveniently applied. Preferably the foam is printed while it is flat, before it is folded or shaped. Another option is to provide a colored fabric material to the back side of the polyurethane foam material such as gold whereby the preform may be configured to function as a white or gold light reflector when reversed.
Although the preferred embodiment, as described above, teaches fabricating the photographic light reflector preforms from a thin polyurethane foam material, any thin, pliable material may be used. And it can be made reversible so that two separate reflecting surfaces can be utilized on one reflector.
My invention provides many advantages, some of which include: (a) reducing the adhering area so that there is less resistance and stress on the flash foot and camera hot shoe, and allowing a photographer to quickly attach it for close shots, and then to quickly remove it for distance photos; (b) its wrap-around design allows the photographer to attach and detach it using only one hand; (c) its flexible material creates both the reflector's shape and structure when wrapped around the flash head without needing a supporting framework, allowing it to collapse for ease of storage and retrieval; (d) the reflector is adjustable, allowing a photographer to optimize light and power to bounce, balance with existing light or match a particular photo setting; and (e) its unique light-weight, low profile design minimizes the reflector's cost of manufacture and shipping by using less material and reducing the amount of necessary machine tooling and dies.
It is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as may fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A preform for assembly of a photographic light reflector suitable for attaching to the flash accessory of a photographic camera, said preform comprising:
- a) a planar sheet of thin flexible material (130) having a bottom perimeter edge (138),
- b) a top portion having a circular perimeter edge (132), said top portion perimeter edge (132) joining said bottom perimeter edge (138) by opposing concave perimeter edges (134, 136),
- c) at least two spaced apart J-hook patches (139, 137) adjacent said bottom perimeter edge (138), whereby said preform (130) may be folded around a symmetrical axis thereby forming a concave light reflector attachable to said photographic flash attachment by said J-hook patches (139, 137),
- d) preferably die cut from a thin planar sheet of polyurethane foam material having a thickness within a range of 1/32 inch to ¼ inch,
- e) the flexible material creates both the reflector's shape and structure when wrapped around a flash head without needing a supporting framework.
2. The preform as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thickness of said polyurethane foam material is preferably 1/16 inch.
3. A preform for assembly of a photographic light reflector suitable for attaching to the flash accessory of a photographic camera, said preform comprising:
- a) a planar sheet of thin formable material (110) having a bottom perimeter edge (112), said planar sheet having a first planar surface and second reverse planar surface,
- b) a top portion having a curvilinear perimeter edge said top portion perimeter edge joining said bottom perimeter edge (112) by opposing concave perimeter edges,
- c) said preform (110) having opposing “V” shaped slots (112, 114) within said curvilinear perimeter edge,
- d) a first J-hook patch (116) affixed to said first planar surface adjacent said “V” shaped slot (112),
- e) a second J-hook patch affixed to said first planar surface adjacent said “V” shaped slot (114),
- f) a first loop patch (126) affixed to said second planar surface adjacent said “V” shaped slot (112) such that said first loop patch (126) may overlap, and attach to, said first J-hook patch (116),
- g) a second loop patch (128) affixed to said second planar surface adjacent said “V” slot (114) such that said second loop patch (128) may overlap, and attach to, said second J-hook patch (118),
- h) at least two spaced apart J-hook patches (120, 122) adjacent said bottom perimeter edge (112) of said first planar surface, whereby said preform (110) may be configured about its symmetrical axis thereby forming a concave light reflector attachable to said photographic flash attachment by said J-hook patches (120, 122).
4. The preform as claimed in claim 3 wherein said preform comprises a thin planar sheet of polyurethane foam material.
5. The preform as claimed in claim 4 wherein the thickness of said thin planar sheet of polyurethane foam material lies within the range of 1/32 inch to ¼ inch.
6. The preform as claimed in claim 5 wherein the thickness of said polyurethane foam material is preferably 1/16 inch.
7. A preform for assembly of a photographic light reflector suitable for attaching to the flash accessory of a photographic camera, said perform being adjustable, flexible, and collapsible, comprising:
- a) a planar sheet of thin formable material (15) having a bottom perimeter edge (22,24,34,32), said planar sheet having a first light reflecting planar surface and second reverse planar surface, said preform having a first quadrant (I), a second quadrant (II), a third quadrant (III) and a fourth quadrant (IV),
- b) said first quadrant (I) and said fourth quadrant (IV) having concave perimeter edges (30, 26), said concave perimeter edges joining said bottom perimeter edges (22, 32),
- c) said second quadrant (II) and third quadrant (III) having a curvilinear perimeter edge (28, 38), said curvilinear edges (28, 38) joining to form a cusp (30),
- d) a first cut line (42) extending from said cusp (30) along the symmetrical axis of said preform (15) thereby separating quadrant (II) from quadrant (III),
- e) a second cut line (46) extending from said perimeter edge (28) thereby partially separating quadrant (I) from quadrant (II),
- e) a third cut line (48) extending from said perimeter edge (38) thereby partially separating said third quadrant (III) from said fourth quadrant (IV),
- f) a fourth cut line (44) extending from said bottom perimeter edge (24, 34) thereby partially separating quadrant (I) from quadrant (II),
- g) a first J-hook patch (54) affixed to said first quadrant's (I) first light reflecting surface adjacent to said second cut line (46),
- h) a second J-hook patch (52) affixed to said second quadrant's (II) first light reflecting surface adjacent to said first cut line (42),
- i) a third J-hook patch (56) affixed to said fourth quadrant's (IV) first light reflecting surface adjacent to said third cut line (48),
- j) a fourth J-hook patch (58) affixed to said first quadrant's (I) first light reflecting surface and adjacent to said fourth cut line (44),
- k) a first loop patch (62) affixed to said second quadrant's (II) reverse planar surface and adjacent said first cut line (46), such that said first J hook patch (54) may overlap and attach to said first loop patch 62,
- l) a second loop patch (64) affixed to said third quadrant's (III) reverse planar surface and adjacent said second cut line (42), such that said second J hook patch (52) may overlap and attach to said second loop patch (64),
- m) a second loop patch (64) affixed to said third quadrant's (III) reverse planar surface and adjacent said second cut line (42), such that said second J hook patch (52) may overlap and attach to said second loop patch (64),
- n) a fourth loop patch (68) affixed to said fourth quadrant's (IV) reverse planar surface and adjacent said fourth cut line (44), such that said fourth J hook patch (58) may overlap and attach to said fourth loop patch (68),
- o) at least two spaced apart J-hook patches (62, 64) affixed to said first light reflecting surface and adjacent said bottom perimeter edge (22,24,34,32)), whereby said preform (15) may be folded about its symmetrical axis thereby forming a concave light reflector attachable to said photographic flash attachment by said J-hook patches (62, 64).
8. The preform as claimed in claim 7 including at least two spaced apart J-hook patches (63 and 65) affixed to said second reverse surface and adjacent said bottom perimeter edge (22,24,34,32), whereby said preform (15) may be reverse folded folded about its symmetrical axis thereby forming a reverse concave light reflector attachable to said photographic flash attachment by said J-hook patches (63, 65)).
9. The preform as claimed in claim 7 wherein said patches (58) and (68) are replaced by an adhesive whereby the overlapped portion of quadrants (I) and (IV) are permanently affixed one to the other.
10. The preform as claimed in claim 7 wherein said preform comprises a thin planar sheet of polyurethane foam material.
11. The preform as claimed in claim 10 wherein the thickness of said thin planar sheet of polyurethane foam material lies within the range of 1/32 inch to ¼ inch.
12. The preform as claimed in claim 11 wherein the thickness of said polyurethane foam material is preferably 1/16 inch.
D312471 | November 27, 1990 | Couch |
5154503 | October 13, 1992 | Sternsher |
5778264 | July 7, 1998 | Kean |
5839006 | November 17, 1998 | Beckerman |
- “Photo Tid Bits” www.wrothiak.net/photo/LQ, Jun. 22, 2003.
- “Pocket Bouncer (LQ-871 D)” www.lumiquest.com/LQ871.htm, Nov. 29, 2005.
- “Flip-It! Adjustable Reflector System” www.joedembphotography.com/flipit, Nov. 29, 2005.
Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 1, 2005
Date of Patent: Apr 22, 2008
Inventor: Jerry Hughes (Dallas, TX)
Primary Examiner: Sandra O'Shea
Assistant Examiner: Bao Q. Truong
Application Number: 11/291,148
International Classification: G03B 15/02 (20060101); G03B 15/06 (20060101);